Changes to amateur radio qualifications

Following an open tender process on AusTender (Approach to Market reference 18ACMA148), the ACMA has selected the University of Tasmania—through its institute the Australian Maritime College (AMC)—to deliver amateur radio examinations, issue amateur certificates of proficiency and for related callsign management.

The ACMA thanks all organisations that expressed an interest in providing services, and also wishes to thank the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) for its provision of services over the term of the current Deed, which came to an end on 1 February 2019. After that time, an examination conducted by the WIA will not be an approved examination for the purposes of amateur qualifications and the WIA will not have the power to issue further certificates of proficiency under the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

The ACMA is working with the AMC to finalise a Deed for the delivery of services and will also need to make enabling instruments to support the AMC’s activities. Once the Deed is signed, the ACMA expects the AMC to progressively commence delivery of services from 25 February 2019.

While these arrangements are being made, the ACMA will consider any applications for certificates of proficiency. A certificate may be issued if the applicant has successfully sat an approved examination under the previous WIA arrangements. The ACMA will also consider any applications for licences related to those certificates of proficiency and will assign callsigns to those licences on issue. Enquiries should be sent to licensing@acma.gov.au.

ACMA names successful ATM tender

Date : 01 / 02 / 2019
Author : WIA

A media release was issued late Friday afternoon with an update on the Approach to Market (ATM) “tender” for the ACMA deed related functions.

The successful tenderer is the University of Tasmania through the Australian Maritime College.

The WIA congratulates the Australian Maritime College.

The announcement from the ACMA indicates that services will will not be delivered in full until some time after 25 February 2019 – the ACMA will be undertaking some of these functions until the AMC is ready.

Amateur callsign recommendations will no longer be processed by the WIA. All Callsign queries should now be directed to the ACMA

The WIA has provided the ACMA with a proposal to transition out of the deed between the ACMA and the WIA. This proposal is yet to be formally accepted by the ACMA.

This is the top level of licence which brings with it full operating privileges including higher transmit power and access to 25 frequency bands.With this licence also comes portability of qualification enabling you to operate in many other countries which can be helpful while on a holiday or business trip.The Advanced licence requires being found competent by way of a 50 question multiple choice written theory assessment and a multiple choice written regulations assessment.If you have not already done a practical assessment under either a Foundation or Standard licence, you will need to do that too.The Advanced licence is formally recognised as a partial exemption as prior learning and may exempt a holder form needing to complete some training modules at TAFE.Particularly for young people this licence greatly helps to expand an interest in communications, electronics or science. For those considering a technical career, being a radio amateur can certainly be of benefit.

Your Last Formal Step Into Amateur Radio

When we say “Amateur Radio” many people instantly think of the old Morse code. They think that to get involved in amateur radio you have to learn Morse code, it is not necessary to learn or have knowledge of Morse code to obtain an advanced or any other grade of amateur licence.

October 2005 saw the introduction of the new advanced grade syllabus and there are not many changes to the old Syllabus. As an advanced licence you can use your licence in all the countries that have reciprocal licensing with Australia . A current list of countries with reciprocal licensing agreements with Australia can be found on the ACMA website.

You need complete a training course which will take between 50 and 100 hours training and at the end of the course a 50 question multiple choice examination, a multiple choice regulations examination and if you do not hold a foundation licence, practical test and a few days later your on the air with your new advanced grade licence.

The advanced licence provides a great opportunity for young people to expand an interest in communications technology and can be a solid launching base to a rewarding career in science, electronics, and communications. The advanced qualification is recognized by some institutions as prior learning and may exempt a holder of this qualification from needing to complete some training modules at TAFE.

But most importantly an advanced licence will expand your horizons if you are upgrading from a foundation or standard licence. It provides an opportunity to communicate with people all over the world as it allows for the use of more bands and higher power than the other two licenses. You will be able to carry out experiments by bouncing signals off the moon and talk by bouncing your signal off aircraft. You will also be able to make and or modify your own equipment. The advanced grade licensee can use the 20-meter band and can therefore join one of the several very popular maritime nets.

Take Amateur Radio With You
On Business Or Recreational Travel

Things You Will Need To Know

You will need to be able to correctly answer correctly 35 of 50 multiple-choice questions based on the advanced syllabus, a copy of the syllabus can be downloaded from the link on the right hand menu bar of this page and a similar regulations assessment based on the LCD (Licence conditions determination), a copy of which can be also downloaded from the link on the right hand menu bar of this page.

Alternatively if you already hold qualifications, which would allow you exemptions in training, then you can apply for recognition of prior learning from the WIA,details are on the WIA website under Become A Radio Amateur > Australian Amateur Licensing And Callsigns > Recognition Of Prior Learning Assessment.

 Radio Bands You Can Use

The advanced licence operator can operate in all of 24 amateur bands listed below. The advanced is the only grade of licence eligible to be trained as a WIA assessor and unlike other grades of licence, the advanced licensee has full reciprocal licensing with all those countries offering reciprocal licensing. A full list of countries can be found on the ACMA website by clicking here

Note : These are general band ranges provided as a guide only, please ensure you consult the ACMA LCD for specific frequency ranges, power limits and any special conditions.

Training For Your Licence

You will need to purchase some support technical reference information such as the ARRL handbook or the Radio Theory handbook, these publications can be purchased online via the WIA bookshop.

Besides providing training the clubs are the ideal places to learn all about amateur radio. You can meet other hams, attend interesting lectures, and find out lots of information. If you decide to take up amateur radio as a hobby you will soon learn there are hundreds of different facets to the hobby. The standard time for training is around 50 to 100 hours. Some clubs will conduct training over several nights and some over a weekend. The 50 question multiple choice written assessment and the regulations assessment takes around 1.5 hours.

The WIA webpages list most of the clubs that are offering training and assessment. If you have trouble finding a club then send us an email to nationaloffice@wia.org.au and we will assist you.

You can also study for the Advanced Licence with the Radio and Electronics School in the comfort of your own home. The Advanced Licence On-line Correspondence Course consists of 20 assignments plus revision and exam preparation and usually takes about 6 months at 1 assignment per week to complete or about 3 hours a week study for the average student. This course is designed for those who hold their Standard Licence and wish to upgrade and is done via on-line E-mail correspondence with a facilitator. Turn around times for assignments are usually 48 hours.

Note that the Advanced Licence On-line Correspondence Course DOES NOT include the regulations required for you to successfully attain your Amateur Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (Advanced) AOCP(A). Please visit  f

http://www.res.net.au/

or further information about the Advanced Licence On-line Correspondence Course and pricing. Regulations are also offered as a separate course should the student require it.

Note that you will need complete your Practical Assessment for the Amateur Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (Advanced) AOCP(A) if not already done.

Assessments

You will also need to complete an assessment as soon as you feel you have completed the training.

The new licence structure introduces a practical assessment that is common to the three grades of licence. The practical assessment is required not only for foundation but also for standard and advanced licence grades. However a practical assessment only needs to be completed once, so by successfully completing a practical assessment as part of your foundation licence you will not be required to repeat it should you decide to upgrade to the standard or advanced licence grades. Even if you are an existing licenced amateur who received your licence before the requirement for a practical assessment was introduced and you wish to upgrade your licence, then you too will need to complete a practical assessment if you have not already done so.

The WIA webpages list assessors who can provide you with your advanced license assessment. If you have trouble finding an assessor then send us an email to nationaloffice@wia.org.au and we will assist you.

Further Information

The Internet is a great source of information on amateur radio, the WIA website has a lot of information including links to club websites and a link to the WIA broadcast pages. You can down load last weeks or up to two year of broadcast and listen to the on MP3 files. The WIA website is www.wia.org.au  Other sites are the  New Zealand Society of Radio Transmitters or NZART at http://www.nzart.org.nz, The American Radio Relay League at http://www.arrl.org the Radio Society of Great Britain or RSGB at http://www.rsgb.org Radio Amateurs of Canada at http://www.rac.ca/ If you search the web you will find thousands of site world wide that have been set up by radio clubs and individual amateurs, after all there are around three million of us.

This is the top level of licence which brings with it full operating privileges including higher transmit power and access to 25 frequency bands.

With this licence also comes portability of qualification enabling you to operate in many other countries which can be helpful while on a holiday or business trip.

The Advanced licence requires being found competent by way of a 50 question multiple choice written theory assessment and a multiple choice written regulations assessment.

If you have not already done a practical assessment under either a Foundation or Standard licence, you will need to do that too.

The Advanced licence is formally recognised as a partial exemption as prior learning and may exempt a holder form needing to complete some training modules at TAFE.

Particularly for young people this licence greatly helps to expand an interest in communications, electronics or science. For those considering a technical career, being a radio amateur can certainly be of benefit.

On passing your exam you can start on air as soon as the ACMA put you name up on there web site, start looking from about 7-10 days after the exam (only a guide) this will depend on there work load at the time.

ACMA licence site

Who To Contact

Jim McNabb email james.mcnabb2@bigpond.com

With club help you will get your licence much easier, just give us a call and away you go on your way into the hobby.

Last update 24/02/2020

Sherbrooke Community Radio Club Inc “VK3KID”

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